Dr. Dolittle (1998)

44% of critics liked it
(50 reviews)
46% of users liked it
(815,345 ratings)

Betty Thomas directed this adaptation of the classic children's stories by Hugh Lofting (1886-1947), updating the original concepts into the present day. When noted surgeon Dr. John Dolittle (Eddie Murphy) swerves his car to avoid hitting a dog, he hits his head on the windshield, triggering his… More Betty Thomas directed this adaptation of the classic children's stories by Hugh Lofting (1886-1947), updating the original concepts into the present day. When noted surgeon Dr. John Dolittle (Eddie Murphy) swerves his car to avoid hitting a dog, he hits his head on the windshield, triggering his long-dormant gift for holding conversations with animals. Friends, associates and his wife Lisa (Kristen Wilson), all express concern, but Dr. Dolittle is happy as he takes on new animal clients. Soon Dolittle's clinic becomes a haven for talking rats, birds, and other assorted members of the animal kingdom, and Dolittle's new four-legged and furry friends, in turn, teach him a few things about being human. The effects seamlessly combine Jim Henson Creature Shop animatronics, computer graphics, and real animals, but some viewers might yearn for a return of the Great Pink Sea Snail and Lofting's other imaginative creatures. The 1967 20th Century Fox musical Dr. Dolittle starred Rex Harrison in a strange storyline that began with Dolittle escaping from a lunatic asylum and leaving the Victorian village Puddleby-by-the-Marsh, England, to search the South Seas for the Great Pink Sea Snail. Along the way, he gathered diverse Dolittle denizens and animal anomalies, including the Giant Moon Moth and the famed, two-headed Pushmi-Pullyu. The earlier film spawned the Oscar-winning popular song success, "Talk To The Animals," along with numerous now-forgotten toys, books, and collectibles. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Betty Thomas
Written By: Nat Mauldin, Larry Levinson
Genres: Comedy, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Jun 26, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Aug 3, 1999
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Leonard Klady, Variety
Slim on story and rife with scatological jokes, the film may strike a chord with pre-teens but misses for an older crowd despite some nifty effects and broad humor.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie will not harm anyone, and in the audience I saw it with, lots of parents and kids seemed to be laughing together.
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com
The old actor's rule -- never work with animals or kids -- has never seemed more apt. The animals steal the scene from Murphy every time, and he gives it up gladly.
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle
Dr. Dolittle runs out of ideas long before the projector runs out of film.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
A cloying, humorless motion picture whose only assets are the work of Jim Henson's Creature Shop and a couple of good one-liners by a pair of rodents.
Ed Grant, Common Sense Media
This gimmicky animal tale is crude but funny.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Even star Eddie Murphy seems bored.
Jon Popick, rec.arts.movies.reviews
It's quite funny for the first thirty minutes, but after that it's kind of like beating a dead horse. A dead talking horse.
Derek Adams, Time Out
Murphy's likeable, the script's laden with a gaggle of one-liners, and there's even a vague message nestling beneath the zoological chaos.
Anthony Miele, Film Threat
Dr. Dolittle is destined to be a money maker, since kids will see the talking animals and be instantly taken in, but it is the film's utter lack of anything wholesome that causes its downfall.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
One of the things about Dr. Dolittle that helps raise it above kiddy-fare and give the accompanying adults a bit of amusing entertainment are the not-so-kid-targeted jokes.
Staci Layne Wilson, StaciWilson.com
Click to read the article.
Dragan Antulov, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Provides enough entertainment for the audience to enjoy the film despite [its] flaws.
Eugene Novikov, Film Blather
Dr. Dolittle doesn't cut it as a family film or as a comedy farce. It's too vulgar to be the former and too inconsistent to be the latter. But consider this movie to be a test -- how many times can you laugh at one joke?
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
Eddie Murphy is one of those actors who is almost always funny. Although this is not one of his best movies, he is thoroughly enjoyable here, with the other actors mainly staying out of the way of his bits.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
Director Betty Thomas recruited a host of stand-up comedians to provide the voices for the animals, and it's a gimmick that works astonishingly well. Talking animals have never sounded so witty.
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
Murphy does little more than react to stupid pet tricks.
Bridget Byrne, Boxoffice Magazine
This movie is not fair to either man or beast. It makes all creatures seem annoying, charmless, noisy, witless and unfunny--unless you are fond of toilet and arse jokes.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Os roteiristas parecem pensar que o simples fato de estarmos vendo um cachorro resmungando é engraçado, não importando o que ele fale. O problema é que importa, sim - e muito.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
The moral of Dr. Dolittle is follow your bliss no matter what anyone else thinks.

Read all 23 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Lucas M

Hugh Lofting's Dr.Dolittle is really a bad decision to make an adaptation to the cinema. Both the original picture and this remake are a very dumb and honest... a piece of crap. Rotten.
Jeff "

This is yet another awful remake of a classic film. Eddie Murphy plays Dr. Doolittle, and this is one of the films that he's done where his acting suffered quite a bit and his comedic delivery started to be quite boring. After this dreadful film, Eddie Murphy starred in Bowfinger… More
This is yet another awful remake of a classic film. Eddie Murphy plays Dr. Doolittle, and this is one of the films that he's done where his acting suffered quite a bit and his comedic delivery started to be quite boring. After this dreadful film, Eddie Murphy starred in Bowfinger which was great, but really Dr. Doolittle was the one that was one of many misfires to come from the actor. This is a boring, unfunny film that should never have been made. This film doesn't entertain, but it might entertain young kids and families looking for a good time, however this is mostly a moronic remake of a classic film, and everything about the film seems out of place. This is a pointless comedy that should never have been made, and the cast seem bored and the jokes were stale. The film gets tiresome very quickly and you simply want it to end. Eddie Murphy started making crap with this film, and like I previously stated, this was the first many horrible films he would make. I didn't enjoy this film and I thought it was overall very stupid with nothing good to offer. Eddie Murphy was once pretty funny, but with films like this, he shows that he has nothing left to deliver in comedy. After this one, he simply became worse. Avoid this film, and watch one his earlier efforts instead. Better yet, watch an actual funny film. If you're looking for a great comedy, this remake sadly doesn't deliver.
Alexander D

OK+
AJ V

I hate remakes, and this movie is no exception. Murphy takes this whole animal talking power too far. It's just not funny at all.
Bethany M

A childhood favourite and a classic!
Conner R

Obviously Eddie Murphy was trying to get in on the whole family comedy genre, but this is just more boring than funny. While there's nothing particularly terrible about it, it's just not something I can watch more than once. Some of the story is a little kooky, but not in an… More
Obviously Eddie Murphy was trying to get in on the whole family comedy genre, but this is just more boring than funny. While there's nothing particularly terrible about it, it's just not something I can watch more than once. Some of the story is a little kooky, but not in an impressive way.
MisterYoda ?

2 stars
Richard C

C
Dean M

Wildly of laughs on animals that Eddie Murphy has the ability to communicate with. Not as noble or feel-good as <i>Babe</i> but its own level just as amazing that the filmmakers could pull this off as well as they do. This film is truly for the entire family.
KJ P

I like this film, because it tries to do what other talking animal movie fail to do!
Anthony L

A guinea pig that says shit. Well done, be proud!
Dean !

Pretty poor overall with just a few funny moments. One more for the kids.
Jason O

Before I saw "Dr. Dolittle" at the theatres a couple of years ago, I thought it was gonna be hilarious. And I was right, it was hilarious in some parts, but it wasn't quite as funny as I thought it would be. Eddie Murphy plays the role of a veterinarian that can… More
Before I saw "Dr. Dolittle" at the theatres a couple of years ago, I thought it was gonna be hilarious. And I was right, it was hilarious in some parts, but it wasn't quite as funny as I thought it would be. Eddie Murphy plays the role of a veterinarian that can actually hear the animals talk to him. Dr. Dolittle must do what he can to help the animals out, even though everybody thinks he's crazy for saying he can hear the animals talking to him. I wasn't disappointed after I saw "Dr. Dolittle" because it was one of the funniest movies of the year and one of Eddie Murphy's best movies. It just wasn't as funny as it looked on the previews. However, if you like good comedy movies, "Dr. Dolittle" would be a good one to get. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. It's no Nutty Professor but still good.
Dean L

This movie was a lot of fun. Surprised the hell out of me actually in that it did not stink. There are some very funny moments accompanied by some great voice work. Watch this if you enjoy a laugh and...talking animals ;) (Mind you...nothing will ever compare to the original).
Rachel F

Good family film
Lanning :

The original with Rex Harrison is unique. This is quite different, but the underlying concept is still beautiful: If we could talk to the animals . . .
danny d

has some bright spots, worth watching on a board night
Jason S

The beginning of the end.
Jose Z

I like it, its a good falmily movie, it has its funny moments, and the voices of the animals are good
Leigh R

Kinda cute...